Math Makes Me Hungry!

This week we started to examine the relationship between math and food. We began by looking at the way that we share many of our foods. We read Give Me Half by Stuart Murphy, a book which teaches us about fair shares and fractions. We then used colored multilink cubes to show different ways to make 1/2. We discovered that different fractions like 4/8 and 5/10 are still 1/2!

We then read The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins. In this story, two children must share fairly their 12 cookies with the many people who keep coming to their door. The students acted out the story and had to figure out how to divide the 12 cookies, first among 2 people, then 4, then 6, and finally 12. We then repeated the story, but this time using starting with a whole pizza. After reading the story we discussed division problems represented in the story and also the fractions that each person had throughout the story.

To celebrate Independence Day we created Fourth of July fraction fruit skewers! To make our fraction skewers students first had to figure out how many strawberries, blueberries, and marshmellows each student would get so that everyone had fair share. After learning the total numbers of strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows, students then used different strategies to find the answers. After creating their fruit skewers they then wrote down what fraction of their skewers were marshmellow, strawberry, and blueberry. Finally, after all of their hard work, they enjoyed their fruit skewers!

Next week we will continue our study of the relationship between math and the food that we eat.

Posted on July 4, 2007 4:28 PM | Permalink